Lady Captains Expect Good Things

NEWPORT NEWS — Nobody's tiptoeing around trying to figure her out any more. Christopher Newport women's basketball coach Carolyn Hunter has been around long enough that everybody knows what to expect.

Entering her third season, she thinks its OK to have higher expectations for this season. CNU finished second in the Dixie Conference last season and has four starters back.

"I think they're more experienced and feel better about the system," Hunter said. "Last year was when I really started putting all of my stuff in."

The core of experience is led by senior point guard Lindsey Carney, senior guard Rasheedah Martin, senior forward Karla Rhone and junior center Nadine Ward. Serita Jackson a senior post player, was a starter part of last season and will be a significant contributor to the lineup.

Returning forwards Tia Moore and Jen Harrell were the best reserves in the Dixie last season and they will need to have good years.

All of these players have been involved in enough Dixie competition to know that the variables are many and teams' performances sometimes fluctuate wildly from game to game.

"I'm asking for more as far as that the expectations are higher," Hunter said. "With our seniors, we've got a core group that have been with me for a couple of years and it's time to step up. The comfort zone is probably there and I can expect more because we're not changing a lot of things.

"They can feel comfortable and I can expect more."

Six freshmen have jumped right in and Hunter has been impressed with their work ethics.

Forwards Florine Gholston and Brandy Gardner and guard Candis Black have all carved out roles in preseason practice. Ashleigh Dawson, from Mount Vernon High in Alexandria, has come in very confident and has been a calming force.

Eight players usually saw time in games last season, but that's going to increase.

"I will probably play more people than in the past," Hunter said. "If we're going to win, I'm going to have to and it'll be a team effort."

But with seven solid veterans to use, time for those newcomers can be chosen carefully and mixed in sparingly.

"We can pick our times, which we must do because we'll lose four starters after this year," Hunter said. "But we plan to have fun. Methodist will be good again and so will Greensboro.

"I think it could happen for anybody at any given time."

Jennifer L. Williams can be reached at 247-4644 or by e-mail at jwilliams@dailypress.com